Bilt Points in Action: My Free Caribbean Escape from Nashville
Welcome back to my blog series on how to vacation for free using points! In this second installment, I’m sharing how to book a 7-day, 6-night Caribbean escape to Jamaica—flights, resort, meals, and drinks included—while paying almost nothing out of pocket. With 200,000 Bilt Rewards Points and some strategic planning, I’ve crafted an incredible getaway from Nashville, TN, where points cover over 100% of the total cost of flights and hotel for 2 people. Here's exactly how I did it—and how you can too.
Goal Overview
Points available: 200,000 Bilt Points
Target coverage: 100% of total flight + hotel costs
Estimated total value needed: ~$2,000
Trip length: 7 days / 6 nights
Region: Caribbean (Aruba, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, etc.)
Step 1: Maximize Point Value (Aim for 1.5–2.2 cents per point)
Bilt Points are incredibly valuable because they transfer 1:1 to a wide range of travel partners, many of which can offer 2.0+ cents per point in value when redeemed smartly.
Bilt Airline Transfer Partners (1:1)
American Airlines AAdvantage (Exclusive)
United MileagePlus
Air Canada Aeroplan
Flying Blue (Air France/KLM)
Avios (British Airways, Iberia, Qatar)
Turkish Miles&Smiles (great for low-cost awards to Caribbean)
Flights from Nashville to Montego Bay (MBJ)
Flying from Nashville (BNA) to Montego Bay, Jamaica is simple with connections through Charlotte or Miami on American Airlines.
Flight Strategy:
Airline Partner: American Airlines via Avios (British Airways) transfer
Points Used: ~40,000 Bilt Points for 2 round-trip tickets
Estimated Cash Value: $800
Out-of-Pocket: $0
✅ High redemption value: ~1.8–2.2 cents/point
Hotel: 6 Nights at Hyatt Zilara or Ziva Rose Hall (All-Inclusive)
Hyatt’s all-inclusive Zilara (adults-only) and Ziva (family-friendly) in Montego Bay, Jamaica are top-tier Caribbean resorts—and offer incredible value with points.
Hotel Strategy:
Hotel: Hyatt Zilara or Ziva Rose Hall
Category: All-Inclusive (Hyatt Category C)
Points Used: 25,000–30,000 points/night
Total Points: ~160,000 Bilt Points for 6 nights
Cash Value: ~$3,200+
Out-of-Pocket: $0
These properties include:
Ocean-view suites
Unlimited food and drinks
Access to private beaches, pools, and excursions
No resort fees or taxes when booked on points
Full Trip Breakdown
For this trip, I used 40,000 Bilt Points (transferred to Avios) to book two round-trip flights on American Airlines, covering about $800 in airfare with zero out-of-pocket cost. For the hotel, I transferred 160,000 Bilt Points to Hyatt and redeemed them for six nights at an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica, valued at $3,200—again, with nothing paid out of pocket. In total, I used 200,000 points to cover $4,000 worth of travel, leaving me to spend just around $222 (roughly 10%) on optional extras like excursions or tips. That means 100% of my flights and hotel are paid for with points, with no added costs for meals, drinks, or entertainment at the resort.
Why This Works So Well with Bilt
1:1 transfers to both Avios and Hyatt for premium value
Hyatt all-inclusives like Zilara/Ziva offer 2.0–2.5 cents per point in value
Bilt is the only program that transfers to American Airlines, unlocking tons of Caribbean routes
Avios bookings often cost fewer points than AAdvantage directly
Planning Your Own Free Trip to Jamaica?
If you’ve got Bilt Points, you’re sitting on a potential luxury vacation fund.
Whether you’re flying from Nashville or another U.S. city, you can use this same strategy to book:
Flights on American Airlines using Avios
All-inclusive stays at top Hyatt resorts
A vacation that’s mostly or totally covered by points
Want help figuring it out? I create custom points award travel plans. Just send me your destination, dates, and point balances—and I’ll map it out for you.
